( m ) 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
Out into the Atlantic. 
The Expedition was reaching its goal ; there could now 
be no doubt that the Lualaba of Livingstone was the 
upper course of the mighty Congo, one of the greatest 
rivers on the globe. But the Expedition was in a 
terrible state. 
Strongly impressed with the knowledge that nothing . 
but a persevering, persistent, even impetuous advance 
towards the sea could now save us from the pangs of 
famine, we only halted two days at Kilanga. Therefore 
on the 6tli July the goods were transported to a distance 
of two miles to Kinzore, beyond the district Suki, or 
“ Hair.” Having ascertained that no rapids of a danger- 
ous nature, during the quick recession of the Hood, 
troubled the narrow and tortuous gap, Uledi was directed 
to lead the canoes past Kinzore and camp to Mpakam- 
bendi, which enabled us to move forward next morning 
to join them without delay or accident. 
Mpakambendi terminates the narrow, walled chasm 
which we had followed since leaving the Ivalulu Falls, 
and in which we had spent 117 days — that is, from 29th 
March to 6tli July. The distance from Mpakambendi 
to Ntamo along the course of the river is only ninety - 
five geographical miles, and we were 131 days effecting 
this journey ! At Mpakambendi the defile through 
which the river rushes opens to a greater width, and the 
mountains slope away from it with a more rounded 
contour, and only at intervals do they drop down abrupt 
in cliffs. Consequently the river expands, and, being- 
less tortured by bouldery projections and cliffy narrows, 
assumes somewhat of a milder aspect. This is due to 
the change in the character of the rocks. Above, we 
